NBA Rookies Pick Kobe Bryant Over Lebron James
By Spike Eskin
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Lebron James and Kobe Bryant play different positions, play in different conferences, and aren't particularly close in age. Still, because James is the one who has taken the "best player in the league" crown from Bryant, the two are compared regularly.
Bryant still leads in the "rings" category, while James has collected more MVPs. James can do everything, but Bryant is the guy you want taking the last second shot.
For now, Bryant's resume is the one that NBA rookies admire most.
In an NBA survey of 36 in-coming rookies, Bryant was chosen as favorite player in the NBA on 21.2% of the ballots, compared to 15.2% who chose James. Kevin Durant and Dirk Nowitzki tied for third place, with 12.1% of the vote.
The two Sixers lottery picks from the 2013 NBA Draft got some love in the poll, with Nerlens Noel coming in second place for the best defender among rookies, and Michael Carter Williams coming in second place for the best playmaker. Noel also tied with three other players for rookie who is being "most overlooked."
See all of the results of the poll at NBA.COM.
